SH-2F
SeaspriteDescription:Ship-based helicopter with anti-submarine, anti-surface
threat capability. Extend and increase shipboard sensor and weapon capabilities
against several types of enemy threats, including submarines of all types,
surface ships, and patrol craft that may be armed with anti-ship missiles.

Features:Seasprite is a ship-based anti-submarine (ASW) and
anti-ship surveillance and targeting (ASST) helicopter. It extends sensor
and weapon capabilities against surface and submerged vessels. The SH-2F
is equipped with search radar, electronic support measures, magnetic anomaly
detectors and an acoustic data link. The helicopter also carries active and
passive sonobuoys.

Background: The H-2
orginally entered Naval service as the Kaman HU2K-1, a single-engine light utility
helicopter primarily deployed aboard aircraft carriers in a Search-and-Rescue
(SAR) role. When the aircraft numbering system was changed in 1962, the HU2K-1
was redesignated the UH-2A and the HU2K-1U was redesignated UH-2B. The airframe
continued to undergo upgrades, most significantly the addition of a second engine
and external stores stations, and the HH-2D was selected to be the airframe
for the Light Airborne Multi Purpose System (LAMPS) when the program was stood
up in 1972. LAMPS evolved in the late 60's from an urgent requirement to develop
a manned helicopter that would support a non-aviation ship and serve as its
tactical Anti-Submarine Warfare arm. Known as LAMPS Mk I, the advanced sensors,
processors, and display capabilities aboard the helicopter enabled ships to
extend their situational awareness beyond the line-of-sight limitations that
hamper shipboard radars and the short distances for acoustic detection and prosecution
of underwater threats associated with hull-mounted sonars. H-2s reconfigured
for the LAMPS mission were redesignated SH-2Ds. The first operational SH-2D/LAMPS
helicopter embarked on the USS Belknap (CG-26) in December 1971. Eventually
all but two H-2s in the Navy inventory were remanufactured into SH-2Fs, and
59 SH-2Fs were built from the ground up in the 1980s. The final production procurement
of the SH-2F was in Fiscal Year 1986. The SH-2F was retired from active service
in in the late 1990s. Some late-production SH-2Fs were either completed as,
or have been converted to, SH-2Gs.

SeaSprite Trivia:
Every SH-2F in the Navy inventory had a discrete side number; all PacFleet
aircraft had two digit numbers starting with 00 ("double-nuts") at HSL-31
and going up through the 40's at HSL-37. All LantFleet aircraft had three
digit numbers which I believe started with 000 at HSL-30.

The most common nickname for the SH-2F was the SeaPig.

The last HH-2D in the Navy inventory belonged to HSL-31 Detachment Bravo
and is currently in the collection of the
American Helicopter Museum.
It is the only aircraft to have been part of a detachment entirely officered
by women Naval Aviators: LCDR Cathy Osman, LT Patsy VanBloem, and LT Paula
Coughlin.

H-2 Bureau Numbers: Aircraft
in Naval service are identified by a Bureau Number (BUNO). This
is a list of all BUNOs for the H-2; they reflect the model at
the time of entry into service. Most (but not all) were later
converted to SH-2Fs.